GENEVA (AP) – World Economic Forum organizers are expecting leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for a virtual meeting next week – after the pandemic COVID-19 destroyed plans for the annual face-to-face event in Davos, Switzerland.
The forum expects to hold its annual meeting in person in May in Singapore.
Forum founder Klaus Schwab said the goal of the “Davos Agenda” virtual meeting starting January 25 is to restore confidence and involve all stakeholders in business, government, civil society and beyond to help build a “more peaceful and prosperous post-corona era. “
The event takes place throughout the week with daily themes on topics such as economic systems, responsible growth, cooperation and use of technologies in the 4th Industrial Revolution – a common theme at the Davos events.
Borge Brende, the forum chairman, said that Xi and Modi will also be accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and South Korean President Moon Jae-in for the event, and these leaders will consider “the role that Asia will play in the recovery “.
Others expected include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron and President Ivan Duque of Colombia.
The annual event in Davos usually attracts thousands of elites to the alpine snows to discuss ways to build a better future.